Cleanliness is next to godliness, but there is more to maintaining your vehicle than simply washing it once in a while. Unfortunately though not surprisingly, a recent survey by Shell found that the majority of Americans are more interested in keeping their ride looking good than in making certain that it runs the way it should. And the researchers identified some areas for improvement, from the car wash to the gas pump. Read more . . .

Most people think that winter is the toughest season for their car. But they underestimate the rigors that summer weather brings. Prolonged heat spurred on by high summer ambient temperatures isn’t just tough on your car’s cooling system, it can also be hard on your tires and battery. And if one of your tires or battery is a no-go, then you’ll be a no-go, too.

Here are some car maintenance items to think about as we cruise into summer’s dog days: Read more . . .

One thing that seems clear about auto insurance: drivers know they have to get it, but, despite that, they just don’t “get it.” When it comes to understanding auto insurance, a high percentage of the population has difficulty grasping the subject matter. And while you might think older drivers have a better handle on the nuances of car insurance than younger, less experienced drivers, the statistics say that’s fallacious.

In an online survey of 1,000 teens and 1,000 adults, the Progressive group of companies found that adults were no more Read more . . .

Depending on where you live, your quotes for auto insurance premiums may have increased by nearly 22 percent–or decreased by almost 14 percent–during the past year, reports Insurance.com, the largest online auto insurance agency in the United States. That’s why shopping for car insurance can pay off in savings.

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Insurance.com’s 2004 Auto Insurance Pricing Report highlights the average change in auto insurance premium quotes on a state-by-state basis, based on actual pricing information from 12 of the nation’s leading auto insurance companies. The quote information was collected from more than 100,000 car insurance quotes provided by Insurance.com to its customers in 2004. Read more . . .

Way back in the good ole’ 1960s car buyers spent about 25 percent of their $8,000 median income on a new car. Today, consumers can expect to pay $27,000 for a new automobile, more than half of the median $48,000 U.S. household income. Times have changed, but has your insurance kept up?

Consider liability coverage. Today’s minimum liability limits for auto insurance were established in 1967, when financial responsibility laws were adjusted to meet the Read more . . .